<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>As the saying goes, Bill . . .</div><div><br></div><div>Slim to none and Slim has done ridden out of town.</div><div><br></div><div>Reliable scuttlebutt has it that our local un-pastor simply cannot afford to bid on the property.<br><br><div>Seeya round town, Moscow.</div><div><br></div><div>Tom Hansen</div><div>Moscow, Idaho</div><div><br></div><div>"If not us, who?</div><div>If not now, when?"</div><div><br></div><div>- Unknown</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><div><br>On Jul 19, 2012, at 15:05, "Bill London" <<a href="mailto:london@moscow.com">london@moscow.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
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<h1><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt">The issue of the
ownership of the Federal Building is a big deal for downtown Moscow. What
are the chances Doug Wilson will grab it? </font></font></h1>
<h1><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt">BL</font></font></h1>
<div><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt"></font></font> </div>
<div><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt">-----------------------------------
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<h1><font face="Times New Roman"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt">Federal Building
going to auction block</font></font></h1>
<p><strong><font face="Times New Roman">By Brandon Macz, Daily News staff writer
| Posted: Thursday, July 19, 2012 1:00 am </font></strong></p>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">Whether Latah County or a private interest will
acquire Moscow's surplused Federal Building is uncertain, but the gauge will be
set next month when the General Services Administration places the property up
for public auction.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">A banner advertising the online public auction
will be attached to the roof of the Federal Building Friday, said Andrew
Schwartz, a realty specialist with GSA's disposal division heading up the
property's sale.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">GSA declared the building surplus in November,
citing limited revenue, a lack of tenants and $3 million in needed
improvements.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">Latah County commissioners had attempted to
negotiate with GSA to purchase the building, but were unsuccessful in persuading
the federal agency to significantly lower its $1.9-million price tag and take a
$300,000 offer.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">The county leases more than 4,000 square feet of
office space there.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">Commissioners decided May 30 - a day before the
deadline set by GSA for the county to up its offer - to attempt to acquire the
building at auction.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">Schwartz said the 60-day online auction starts
Aug. 7, and could be extended depending on bid activity.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">"The bidding is sort of the driver for when the
auction will actually close," he said. "There's a great deal of potential bidder
interest."</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">Prospective bidders will have to pay a
refundable deposit to participate and a starting bid amount will be set,
however, Schwartz said these costs likely won't be set until next
week.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">"If the opening bid's $1.9 million, I'm going
fishing," said Latah County Commissioner Tom Stroschein during Wednesday's
commission meeting.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">Commissioner Dave McGraw said the commission is
focusing first on setting the 2012-13 budget and trying to provide a salary
increase for county employees.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">B.J. Swanson, who had been brokering
negotiations with GSA for the county, said she believes the federal agency will
set its minimum bid at 10 percent of the property's valuation - also set by GSA
- based on researching other government auctions.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">"I know there have been other people in the
building looking around," she said, "but whether they'll bid, I have no
idea."</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">Once GSA closes the auction, the winning bidder
must provide 10 percent of the bid amount within 10 days with an average 90-day
closing date, said Schwartz.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">Schwartz will be giving prospective bidders
tours of the Federal Building at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Aug. 2 and Aug. 9
starting at the entrance.</font></p></div>
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<p><font face="Times New Roman">To follow the auction once it opens, go to
</font><a href="http://realestatesales.gov"><font face="Times New Roman">realestatesales.gov</font></a><font face="Times New Roman">.</font></p></div>
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